It is very high in potassium and provides a great supply of calcium unusual in a fruit. As with the recipe for Rosa de Jamaica Guatemalans tend to make this tamarind beverage quite strong and sweet. I make my recipe of the tamarind beverage from about a half pound of tamarind pods by first cracking off the shell. Place the insides into water and allow to soak for 2 or more hours. Once the pulp has softened use hands to squeeze the pulp freeing it into the water. Strain the liquid out and add in enough more water to make 1 or 2 quarts as desired and sweeten with sugar or other sweetening agent and chill or pour over ice. The beverages industry is one of the oldest in existence. It has been around for ages. Not only does it provide people with beverage jobs but also with various other business related opportunities as well.

Guatemala was way ahead of us in that respect. As Guatemala is a country that grows sugar cane and exports sugar it is the common sweetener for this beverage. Horchata could be sweetened with honey agave syrup Stevia or any other sweetener preferred. Rosa de Jamaica or Roselle Hibiscus Beverage This beverage is made from the calyxes of the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant often called Roselle Hibiscus. They are deep red and fleshy when fresh. Once dried the calyxes are packaged and can now be found in many health food stores. In Guatemala these calyxes are called Rosa de Jamaica or Jamaican Rose. The name spoken or written in Guatemala implies either the dried calyxes or the resultant beverage. In Guatemala the roselle hibiscus plant is not grown for the small flowers but for the fleshy calyxes steeped to make the Rosa de Jamaica beverage. The calyxes are high in vitamin C citric acid tartaric acid and malic acid as well as flavonoids such as cyanidin giving them their deep red color.

Americans want to be healthier and also discover the fountain of youth and longevity. The food industry is rushing to fulfill this new desire. The new buzzword is "functional health beverages and foods." Functional beverages (also known as "neutraceuticals") are beverages fortified with dietary supplements and herbal medicines. And they are becoming a multi-billion dollar industry. Experts predict Americans will buy more bottled water than coffee or beer. Artificial flavors are losing ground to drinks with "all natural" claims. Antioxidant tea products are now the rage. And at least one brand of coffee is adding herbs and minerals to its beans. Energy drinks are the fastest growing supermarket category -- with sports drinks right behind.